[1] In one scene, Derrida comments that he would be most interested in hearing about famous philosophers' sex lives because this topic is seldom addressed in their writings.

The filmmakers respond to many of these criticisms by probing Derrida on various aspects of his own personal life, though he usually refuses to answer directly questions about himself.

The film also follows Derrida during a trip to South Africa where he visits Nelson Mandela's former prison cell and discusses forgiveness with university students.

"[6] Other critics, like The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw, found the film whimsical and entertaining but lamented Derrida's evasive and mysterious demeanor.

The book describes many of the events that followed the film's release, including Derrida's unexpected celebrity status on the streets of New York City.